Five Brilliant Resources to Learn Code by Doing

I’ve always been a kinetic learner. It’s something that comes naturally to me: I learn by doing, and making enough errors so that I can pick myself up and learn how to overcome in the future. It’s an attitude that lends itself to entrepreneurship.

For everybody here, here are five ways to learn code interactively—learning by doing rather than staring blankly at an endless array of pages.

Codingbat gives you a simple array of interactive problems so that you can apply your basic coding logic into action. It also offers a login feature so you can record your achievements. Codingbat offers nice warm-up problems that even beginners can get comfortable with to learn code, and they’re a great way to start executing code rather than just reading about it.

A godsend for me. LearnPython.org features lessons in several languages (don’t be deceived by the name, Java, Javascript, PHP, and C are included as well) where you can read what you are supposed to do, and then work to put it into motion with interactive code modules placed within the text. You can learn code by playing around with different case studies.

The official site of the Python community not only features tons of useful documentation on the Python language and an introduction to the community, but also an interactive shell you can activate by clicking on the yellow button on the screen. Featuring PythonAnywhere, it allows you to play around with Python as you’re reading about it.

KhanAcademy is always a fun place to learn about a variety of subjects through gamification, but its coding module deserves special plaudits. It’s especially useful for children who want to have more visual feedback when they learn code, rather than the simple feel-good rush of not having any errors pop up in the module.

What is a list of coding resources without it? I learnt the foundations of my web knowledge there, and you can learn code there too. Book yourself some time at CodeAcademy: it will be time well-spent.

Learning coding shouldn’t have to be about poring over page after page of a book. One of the coolest things about building things in the digital sphere is that there is an instant feedback loop: you can literally see what you are building. These resources will ensure that you’ll be able to experience that loop while you’re learning to code.

For more resources, follow me on Twitter, and sign up for the mailing list.

PS: If you’re looking for curated resources on how to get into digital basics and become a UX designer, look no further than Springboard’s UX bootcamp.

Roger is an entrepreneur who has co-founded a social network entitled ThoughtBasin that looks to connect students looking to make a difference with organizations looking for difference makers. This experience has given him some setbacks, but also some priceless insights. He is deferring admission from the law school of University of Toronto to pursue his dream of creating impact through entrepreneurship, and he is constantly looking to learn and create, and to do more. He contributes to social entrepreneurship projects with his fellow Global Shapers, coordinates a volunteer tutoring site, and on his off time he unwinds by reading, writing, and dancing---sometimes, all at the same time. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Rogerh1991.